On December 1, some of our young friends from God's Bible School came over to see us.
It was so good to see Jenny DeLeon, Clarissa Burton, Mary Matias, Kristy and Rebecca Bennett. We had a good time together visiting, eating cookies fresh from the oven, and telling stories of when they each first met Emily! We had lots of laughs and hugs.
In the picture is also Lynell White, my dear little "sister" for many years. Lynell came on November 30 and stayed for four days. She was so brave to travel by herself all the way from Virginia Beach, and she was such a blessing to me. We played games and talked, and put puzzles together, just had really good quality sister time! That weekend was our church's Christmas Drive Thru and we were happy Lynell was with us for it. The CDT was the biggest turnout ever, and we were in line for an hour and a half before we got to drive through the play.
We use our SkipBo cards for playing Play Nine.
We put this very difficult Ark Encounter puzzle together.
I'm standing with my weight only on my right leg in this picture,
because there was not enough healing in my left leg for weight bearing yet.
We had such a wonderful time together.
I told Lynell that her coming really showed me her love and how much she values our friendship through the years. The long trip was definitely part of the gift!
I'm thankful God kept her safely all the many miles.
The next event was the GBS Staff Christmas party at Higher Ground Retreat and Conference Center.
This was before we left. I had an eye exam at Cincinnati Eye Institute as part of finishing the Drug Study in the afternoon before the party. After the appointment, we had a fun drive to Indiana. We had some time to use up, and we went to a Kroger because I hadn't been to a grocery store in so long.
At the Christmas party, we got to eat with some of our favorite people, Chandler and Melissa Witter. Also Drs. Alan and Nadine Brown and Chandler's dad were at our table.
It was so special to get to be with GBS staff and faculty, most of whom I had not seen since my broken leg in October. This was my last staff party, and I'm so grateful for the years I got to work for GBS and go to this amazing Christmas party.
The next day, Hope Brown came to fly from CVG to Denver for Christmas break. Every Christmas, she brings us a flower arrangement to enjoy over the month of December.
We didn't decorate a whole bunch for Christmas this year, because of needing the space for maneuvering the wheelchair and walker in and out of the front door.
The mini orchid had a nice story behind it. Our friend Connie brought over some white chili to us when Lynell was here. Afterwards, she went to Trader Joe's and the cashier asked her if she had been Christmas shopping. She told the guy she had taken food to a friend with cancer. He gave her the mini orchid for her friend! It was so sweet, and those blooms lasted into February!!
Elizabeth came over on December 10 to go to the GBS Christmas program,
so we got to see her for a short visit in the afternoon.
We got to see Jason briefly on December 11, after the disappointing news at the surgeon's office
that my break was only 60% healed and I could not bear weight yet.
Our church had a Christmas supper and party on December 13.
We had a warm enough day for one more "walk" around the block in 2023.
On December 16, we used our free tickets to the Ark Encounter that Rowen was given back in the summer. We enjoyed getting to go again. The lights were pretty, and in the evening, there was a Mennonite choir singing Christmas carols.
December 17 was our church's children's play. It was very cute.
Just one picture will prove that!
December 21, Jason and Karen were over for supper and a puzzle.
All done!
Emily flew in late on December 23. This picture is before church on Christmas Eve.
A matching black and red picture with Regina. The church was decorated in December with poinsettias purchased in memory of our loved ones. This one was in memory of my dear Mother.
Elizabeth came over on the afternoon of the 24th. This is our Monday Christmas dinner picture.
The kids got their heads together and gave us over 80 questions that we are to record our answers and share our advice. (This is a huge project and will take a while to get through all of the questions.)
It is really sweet that they want to hear our voices and our "wisdom."
Emily taught us a new crochet stitch that she recently learned.
Christmas evening, we found out Danette and Jimmy Garcia were available to come over for supper!
It's been a long time since they've been over. We had taco salad.
We started this extremely difficult puzzle with Danette.
We made a lot of progress with Danette, but ended up finishing it the next day.
One of the side pieces was within the last ~25 pieces before we found it!
A picture of Rowen, Janet, Elizabeth, and Emily
Emily and Rowen covered some pretzels.
One day Elizabeth did a sewing project.
Elizabeth had to get back to work before Jason and Karen got to come over.
So we did a family picture with them.
Emily and I went to Chick-fil-A for peppermint shakes and had a fun visit with Regina.
We only had a shake apiece. The other cups were water!
Emily and I went shopping at Kohls and found these beautiful blue sweaters to buy.
Rowen was willing to match with us on the last Sunday of 2023.
Emily got to finish out the year with us, before she left on January 2, 2024.
We had a quiet Christmas, but a very blessed one.
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